In one of the most awaited finals of the programme, Vladimir Morozov, from Russia, had a bullet-start with a 0.59 reaction time and a 50m turn under the World Record pace (21.94, 0.23 faster than the split clocked by Cielo in 2009), but this initial effort didn’t pay off. The victory went to Australia’s James Magnussen in 47.71, 0.08 slower than his winning time in Shanghai, two years ago.

Magnussen had been defeated by Nathan Adrian (USA) at the 2012 Olympics, but took his sweet revenge in Barcelona, leaving the minor medals for the two US swimmers of the final, respectively James Feigen (47.82) and Adrian (bronze, in 47.84). The Australian sprinter was already the best performer of the season, with a 47.53 effort from last April in Adelaide. Moreover, this was his fourth medal at FINA World Championships, after three podium presences in 2011.

For the North American swimmers, Adrian accumulates his fifth award, while Feigen takes home his second medal at this level. Morozov was fifth in 48.01, while Fabien Gilot from France could not get close to his 46.90 effort in the third leg of the 4x100m free relay on Day 1 and finished seventh in 48.33.

"In the last 25m to go in the second lap, I saw Nathan [Adrian] and James [Feigen] in the front, I knew it was gonna be a tight finish. I didn't think I was going to go that fast, I was very fortunate."

On difference between his 2011 and 2013 titles: "My first world title, I was quite inexperienced. I came into the meet with no pressure. In comparison, this was really an emotional day in race. I had a lot behind me in the past 6 or 12 months."

"Mentally, I'm tougher. I had very similar results to last year in the relay on day 1 but last year these results rocked me more than they do this year. One of the biggest things is the Australian swimming team really helped me through these last few days. I felt I had everyone's support this year and that I was really representing a team and that made my job a little bit easier."

"The racing experience is invaluable, it's definitely part of my progression, which I will build on in the next years and get as much international races as I can. I was not as quick as I may have hoped, I was going 21 in the first 50m and because of the races I've done, I was able to stick to my race plan and this little of extra experience really allowed me to finish this race more professionally than I did last year."

Silver medal winner: James Feigen (USA)

"I feel really tired. I'm glad I've put that race behind me and now I can focus on the relay. I have a big responsibility to make the team get a medal."

Bronze medal winner: Nathan Adrian (USA)

"I've been competing at World Championships since 2009 and it took me until 2012 to actually medal on the individual level and 2013 to win my first individual medal at a World Championships."

On missing the World title after winning the Olympic title: "I think there's just a lot going on the year after the Olympics. The ones who did that - Matt Grevers (100 back) and Yannick Agnel (200 free) - I think it's very impressive."